Thorntons CEO Jonathan Hart has decided to leave the UK chocolate manufacturer and retailer.

The company announced Hart's departure this morning (18 May). Hart, who joined Thorntons in 2011, will step down at the end of the group's financial year on 27 June.

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No reason was given for Hart's departure. A spokesperson for Thorntons said Hart had not disclosed a specific reason for his decision to step down.

Thorntons COO Barry Bloomer will become interim CEO while the company recruits a successor for Hart.

Under Hart's stewardship, Thorntons moved to reduce the size of its retail business, which had been struggling to grow sales.

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At the start of 2011, Thorntons had 371 company-owned stores and 229 franchise outlets. On 10 January this year, the group owned 247 outlets and had 175 franchises. It has a long-term ambition to reduce the number of owned stores to between 180 and 200.

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Thorntons has looked to focus more on its FMCG division, which sells products through supermarket chains, online and internationally.

Hart joined Thorntons from UK coffee-shop chain Caffè Nero, where he was MD. His career included stints as group MD at electronics retailer Dixons and group MD at PC World International.

Asked if Thorntons could look to recruit a chief executive with more experience in FMCG businesses, the spokesperson said: "I think that's safe to say. The future of the business will be much more dominated by FMCG."